Mercury contactor



March 7, 1939. c. cl-uLows'KY MERCURY CONTACTO'R- Filed May 19, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1939., c. 'CHILOWSKY MERCURY CONTAC'IOR Filed May 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 shulnng the noperotus.

Patented 7,1939

c it

thilfififlfih o u some Gomttin while, Fouls, hronco Application on Elli, 1935], Serial No, lth iiit) lln cc cmlicr lit, 19%

11 i (Elsinore There exist various oppuretus including o iner= curs; column locnted in u tube oi suitshle shone, for instance rectilinear or U shoned, this col moving under the influence oi is fluid such ioi instance cs noses, in such er us to produce the closing or the opening of electric contocts dis nosed in s suitable manner close to the meniscus oi the mercury column.

in apparatus of this type, it y happen thnt, either in the course oi transportation or" the nnpurotus, or in the course of its normal Work inc, for instance in the case in which the epnero= tus is utilized in circtonces such that it is liohle to undergo violent shocks, the mercury coin hreeizs into two or seversl parts, which may involve disturbances in the working of the o perutus and prevent the correct closing or opening oi" the contacts controlled by the dis= placement of this col. in particular, when use is mode oi mercury cois of smell diameter, tor instance averaging from it?) to l .44; meter, the column, once broken after any occi= dent is not reestablished by itself, as e, conse-= ,uuence oi the nasal section thereof end of the foot that mercury sticirs to the Well of the glossy tuhe. In some cases, it is even rather dimcultv to reestablish the unity oi the mere col ion on the contract, "when the mercury col is or" is larger diameter, it is easier to reestablish the unity of the mercury coin otter lore thereof hut, on the other hond, this breaking: is facilitated, so that, the greater e diameter oi the column, the greater the danger oi having this col hrolzen into parts under the effect oi shocks undergone h the ennuretus. Besides, this loreeiiine oi the coin involves soother denser, which even when the unity of the column is relatively easily restored. This re= suits from the feet that the loreolsinu oi the col uinn may permit e, portion of the gases which not upon one of the ends oi sold col oi passing through the tuhe from the chamber located at one end of said tube to the chamber located at the other end thereof, this passage oi gases dire turbine the Working oi the apparatus;

The object oi the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the type shove descrlhed which is cupulole oi ovoidinu breaking oi the mer== curs column end, furthermore, in the unlikely case of such as loreoiiinn having taken place, en sures the immediate and eutoniatic restoring oi" the unity oi the column, preventing, at the some time, any passage of gases through the col,

Accor mg to the essentiol feature of the inventicn, the shone, the section and the length of the mercury column ore chosen in such manner that said col believes as just shove mentioned, the tulce heinn eventually provided, in certain emhoents, with supplementary moons for ensuring the some result,

@ther iestures oi the present invention result from the toils detailed description of some specific emhoents thereoi'.

In these einhodiments, the invention is shown es spoiled to o olioto-relov oi the type descrihed in my French Potent No. 795,681, oi September 7, ices.

This opnorstus includes o. mercury col moving in o U=shnned tube under the influence 1 of the pressure variations occurring in e. hulls containing substances subjected to the notion oi on electrolytic current on theone hwd end to the notion oi light on the other hand, these varie tione heins trotted to the mercury col through on inert ens.

As mutter oi toot, it should be Well under sd t the invention is in no way limited to the onnlicetion in question, which is described in detail merely hr way of pie, this inven= tion heinn annlicehle to all mercury contectors cents-l a. col oi thismetel movshle in o, t and serving" to open or close electric contacts.

.Preierred emhcents oi the present inven tion "will he hereinetter described, with reference to the uccomn m drawings, elven merely hr nor oi exple, end in which:

Fin. 1 dingrticslly shows n photo-relay devised occordinu to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows, on on enlarged scale, s detail oi A cold relish;

his, 3 shows o in reler;

lilo. t shows mother constructional detail oi the eounrotus;

M5 cetior oi o detoil oi cold of the onncrotus; Fin. ii shows at detail mccution oi the norctus;

Fig. l shows as contector system in which mercury coin moves in n linear tuhe;

Fig. t shows soother comment in which n rectilinear is nrovioled with two mercury @01 to ill 3 i Fin. 9 is e iront view of still another emhodi inent oi the invention;

his it is o reer view corresponding to Fin. n;

Fig. ii is o sectional view on the e li it of Fig. 9,

In Pic. L l have shown at I an electrohtic hulh his, ii is e norm view showinc modificstion constituting an essential element of the 'photorelay, this bulb containing two electrodes 2 and 2, fed with current through a battery 3 inserted in a circuit including a resistance 4 for the adjustment oi the electrolytic current. I have shown at 5 an element including an elastic membrane 6, for instance of glass, caught between two plates 1 and 8, for instance also made of glass. The chamber located between plates 6 and 8 communicates through a tube 9 with the inside of bulb I, and the chamber located between plates 5 and I communicates through a tube III with the inside of a tube II containing the mercury column. This tube II is provided at each end with a plug of a porous material which permits gases to flow therethrough but prevents the passage of mercury. These plugs I2 and I2" carry respective contacts I3 and I3". I have shown at H and I4 two mercury columns of relatively large section ,(for instance from 3 to 4 mm.). The two portions of mercury column are connected together by means of two tubes of small sectionIB and I6", open at their upper ends, the lower ends of these last mentioned tubes being connected together by the narrow passage ll of a capillary tube I8.

The open ends of tubes I6 and I 6" are located in the middle part of the mercury masses, respectively, at I4 and I4. The apparatus is completed by a lamp I9 which is switched on when the meniscus of column I4 reaches contact I 3".

It will be readily understood that with such an arrangement, in view of the small height of the space existing between the meniscus of each of the portions I4 and I4 of the column and the corresponding plug, on the one hand, and of the section of the column, on the other hand, said column cannot break into two portions, and, even in the highly unlikely case of such a break ing taking place, it cannot remain in this broken state, the unity of the column being necessarily restored by any slight shock.

And even when such a breaking takes place, the gases cannot-pass from one of the ends of the tube to the other end, that is to say from the space located above plug I2 into chamber I5, in view of the fact that the upper end of narrow tube I6 opens into the middle part of the mercury of column I4, any possible breaking of this column being unable to permit gas to reach this point. Therefore the device ensures perfect safety.

In Fig. 2, I have shown, on an enlarged scale, an embodiment of one of the plugs I2 or I2". In this embodiment, the plug proper is constituted by a porous mass, for instance of a refractory matter, 22, located in a metallic envelope which may be welded in the glass, and made for instance of platinum or an alloy capable of being welded. I have shown at 2| a metallic contact consisting for instance of a thin extension oi the metallic wall of the plug. 23 is a metallic contact extending through the wall of the glass tube. Tube 20 may also be made of a matter such as steatite, which is also capable of being welded to glass. In a likewise manner, the plug also may be made of a matter capable of being welded.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modification of the plug. In this example, a metallic wire 25 extends through a wall 25 of the glass tube and also through the wall of plug 22. The spiral wound end of this wire is housed in a recess 21 of the plug, filled with a suitable cement, and

it projects through the matter of the plug, In such manner as to close contact 24. I have shown at 28 a tubular envelope weldable in glass.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification in which the communication between the two portions I4 and I4 0! the mercury column is ensured through a small size metallic tube 4 I, which replaces the capillary tube I8 of Fig. 1. In this example, the ends of tube 4| extend inside the mass of mercury I4 and I4. These ends'oi tube 4| are closed at the top but are each provided with an orifice corresponding substantially with the center of the mercury mass, as shown at 29' and 29". Besides it is clear that tube 4| might also, according to the invention, stop at these center points of the mass, in the same manner as tubes I6 and IE" of Fig. 1.

In a modification illustrated by Fig. 5, the glass tubes I I and II are provided with bulging portions in the middle, in such manner as to further increase the safety and to prevent penetration of the gases into the orifice 29', in the unlikely case of a breaking of the mercury mass.

As above stated, it is very diflicult to imagine a possibility of breaking of the mercury column, and, even in this case, it is clear that the separate portions of the column would immediately reunite under the action of gravity.

This is quite sure in the case of a column of a diameter averaging 4 millimeters. However, if the diameter of the column is reduced, for instance down to 3 millimeters, mercury (as taught by experience) may stick, under the effect 01 a kind of molecular attraction, to the upper part of the tube and to plugs I2 and I2". However,

even in this case, the whole of the column adheres to the tube and does not break in the middle, which may be obtained in particular by making use of an especially short column, according to the invention. However, experience also teaches that it sufiices in this case to shake the apparatus downwardly or to give it a downward shock for bringing back the column immediately to its correct place. In all cases a complete breaking of the column in the middle thereof, that is to say at the level of the inlet orifices 29 and 29' of tube 4| (in the case of Fig. 4), and still more the passage of gases from one chamber into the other one is extremely unlikely, and even impossible practically. This passage of the gases is made still more impossible in the embodiment of Fig. 5 in which the tube has bulging portions at the level of the orifices 29 and 29" of tube 28.

However, the invention includes an embodiment permitting of making use of columns of a diameter smaller than 3 millimeters. According to this arrangement, I establish in any suitable manner a communication along the mercury column between the space located above the meniscus and the bottom of the tube. With such an arrangement, in the case of the mercury column, of a relatively small diameter, coming, as a consequence of a shock throwing it upwardly, to adhere against the plugs, and of a gas pocket being formed under the column and preventing it from moving back downwardly, the gases might escape through this communication in an upward direction, thus permitting the column to move down. This communication between the top and the bottom can be created through any suitable means. A simple arrangement is shown by way of example in Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the communication between the top and the bottom of the chamber containing the mercury mass is established through a wire or tube 30 disposed along the inner wall of the tube. This wire may be dis- I- posed as indicated or again in spiral, winding around the mercury column. Another arrangementconsists in providing channels in the tube wall or in giving said tube a non-circular section, for instance a polygonal section with sharp angles. It is also possible, in order to obtain this result, to give a rough surface to the inside of the tube.

All these arrangements are intended to prevent mercury from sticking to the whole periphery of the tube by capillarity and thus preventing any communication between the top and the bottom.

In Fig. 7, l have shown another embodiment in which the mercury column is located in a rectilinear tube, being also disposed between two plugs in such manner that it cannotbreals. In this figure l have shown a diagram oi a photo-relay similar, as a rule, to that shown by Fig. l, the contactor being used, by way of example, in combination with such a device. Thermercury col umn shown at 30 is located, as just above stated, between two plugs Eli? and 33. This column may have a diameter substantially smaller than that oi the preceding example, ior instance from some tenths of a millimeter to one millimeter. The height or the mercury column is also relatively small, for instance lower than one centimeter. The distance between plugs 32 and i3 is such that the mercury column has no room for breaking under the shoot either of shoclss or a capillary sticking oil a mercury drop or of a portion of the mercury column to the glass wall. In the case of separation due to shocks, the column has a tendency to bear against one of the plugs and cannot break into separate portions. in the case of the section or a portion, the latter is immediately absorbed by the column when it comes to bear against one of the plugs. The plugs shown by Fig. 7 are made, for instance, of a refractory terial surrounded by a metallic sheath, welded in the glass, each of these sheaths being connected through a wire welded in the wall with the remainder of the circuit. These conductors are shown at 34 and 35. Fig. 7 shows a preferred embodiment in which the metallic sheaths are bevelshaped at their inner ends, the points of the bevels forming the two electric contacts. In the median position, the column touches both contacts, whereas in each of its extreme position, it leaves one or the other of these contacts. It will be readily understood that with this embodiment also, the dimensions of the column are chosen in such manner, with respect to the dimensions of the tube containing this column, that the column cot break and the gases cannot pass through the column.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a mocation oi the device of Fig. 'l in which tube 3b, which contains the mercury col, is arranged in such mar that the col is divided into two rtions ti and St. The mercury column is preferably oil a relatively small diameter. The two portions of the column are separated by a porous plug bl through which the gas pressure from element d, transmitted through tube 3d, acts on the inside of tube The increases and decreases or this pressure produce displacements of both columns til and ti", which move simultaneously in such manner as to get nearer to, oriarther from, plug 3i, provided between them. in the lower part of tube 36, there is provided a porous plug 39', substantially of a section equal to that oi column M. This plug a so acts as an electric contact. provided a second plug 39", which also plays the separate recess dd forming the electric contact.

In the upper part of tube 36, there is part of an electric contact. The section of this plug is smaller than that oi column 3|", the portion of the glass tube 38 through which said col communicates with the plug having a trusts-conical shape, as shown at 40. s In this way, when the pressure which exists in the median part of tube 36 increases, column 36' moves in a downward direction in a. tube of cylindrical section, whereas column 3 l is pushed into the conical part of the tube, which slows to down its displacement under the chest oi the capillary lorces.- 0wing to this arrangement, column 38' moves before column; 35 and begins to close contact lit. the the contrary, col 3 l starts moving only when the pressure reaches 15, a certain value higher than that'necessary for producing a. displacement oi column 3 l Contact dd" therefore closes at a pressure higher than that corresponding to the closing of contact Jill. this arrangement, given as an example of the up various possibilities or" operation of a contactor according to the invention is intended to ensure the working of a photo-relay intended to switch on and oil lamp Ill as a function of the varia tions or the illnation.

The operation or this apparatus talses place as lollows:

When the illumination decreases, the pressure on the inside of element it and therefore in the median part of tube decreases; column ill to moves in a downward direction, closing contact 3t. lhis closing produces the switching on of lamp thin. circuit with battery it the darliness persists the pressure further increases and column ll 5 is brought into movement and finally 3.3 closes contact 3b", which partially short-circuits the electrodes 2 and 2 cl bulb l, in such manner as to reduce the potential at the terminals of these electrodes down to a value insumcient for producing electrolysis. The electrolytic current so is stopped and the pressure ceases to increase. When the day breaks, when the illnation irrcreases, contact lid" is first broken, electrolysis is again started and finally lamp id is switched oil as a consequence of the breaking of contact 39'. 5

Figs. 9 to ll illustrate the application of the invention to a monu bloc apparatus or the hind above described, such a photo=relay apparatus being 'l'crmed by the combtion of a plurality of glass plates at least one or which is so shaped in such manner as to contain all the cbers, recesses and conduits that are neces= sary.

In this embodiment of the invention, the elec-- trolysls chamber, corresponding to the bulb at 55 the preceding examples, and designated by reiterence character 8, is formed in suitably shaped glass plate welded under pressure to plate 5..

line [Ll-shaped contactor tube for the mercury column is replaced by a suitably shaped glass 0 plate all welded under pressure to plate 6.

Between these two plates hi and ll thus provide chamber dd, which is connected through a conduit lid with chamber dd, provided with a w The second branch of the. mercurycoln is formed by a chamber ltd which is connected through a. hole lid with the space adjoining the flexible membrane t, made of glass. Chambers 70 db and ltd are widened at the bottom so as to f spherical recesses ltd and Mt filled with mercury, and which are in communication with each other through a tube l5!) iormed in the mass of glass and the ends in and ll! of whichvopen g5 into the centers of the two respective mercury masses present in chambers I30 and I40.

The glass flexible membrane i2 is welded on the periphery between the two systems of glass plates above mentioned, constituted one by plates 50 and I, and the other by plates 5| and 8.

Passages l0 and H0 correspond to slots of a height of about one hundredth of a millimeter, which permit gas to how easily therethrough but practically stop mercury.

Conduits 80 and I00 for the displacement of the mercury column, and also recess 90, formed by the welding together of two glass plates, preferably have a triangular section, the edges of said glass plates along which they are welded together for forming these conduits making relatively sharp angles. In view of the resistances of the capillary forces, mercury cannot penetrate into these angles, which remain filled with the gas. Owing to this arrangement, the mercury column, under the influence of gravity returns automatically to its normal position and has a mobility which prevents any wedging thereof.

The metallic tube I50 is sufiiciently close to the peripheral zone to be in the welded part of the periphery, which improves the fluid tightness of its fixation in the glass elements.

It is clear from the above mentioned examples that the invention is applicable to all kinds of mercury contactors for preventing the breaking of the mercury column and the passage of gases through said mercury column.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and eflicient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel tube elements of relatively large section and a conduit of small section forming the bottom of the U, extending to a distance upwardly in said tube elements, electric contacts in said tube elements, a plug at the upper part of each of these tube elements capable of allowing gases to flow therethrough but of stopping the passage of mercury, and a mercury column present in said tube elements and said conduit.

2. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel tube elements of relatively large section and a conduit of small section forming the bottom of the U, extending to a distance inside said tube elements, plugs in the upper parts of said tube elements respectively including a porous central portion and a metal sheath surrounding said porous portion, said metal sheath being provided with two projections, one extending through the wall of the tube element and the other extending downwardly from said plug, so as to form electric contacts, and a mercury column present in said tube elements below said plugs and in said conduit, said mercury column being adapted to cooperate with the last mentioned projections of said metal sheaths.

3. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel tube elements of relatively large' section, a. capillary tube forming the bottom of the U and interconnecting said tube elements and short metallic tubes of small section prolonging s'aid capillary tube to a distance inside said tube elements, respectively, a mercury column present in said tube elements and said capillary tube so that said metallic tubes open into the central parts of the mercury masses in each of said tube elements respectively, a plug at the upper part of each of these tube elements capable of allowing gases to flow therethrough but adapted to stop the flow of mercury, and electric contacts in said tube elements adapted to cooperate with said mercury column.

4. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel glass tube elements of relatively large section and a conduit of small section forming the bottom of the U and extending to a distance inside said tube elements, plugs in the upper parts of said tube elements respectively, including each a core of a refractory porous material provided with a recess, a metallic conductor fixed in said recess projecting, on the one hand, laterally through the glass wall of the corresponding tube element, and, on the other hand, downwardly from the under face of said plug so as to form an electric contact, and a mercury column present in said tube elements below said plugs and in said conduits, said mercury column being adapted to cooperate with the last mentioned projections of said metallic conductors.

5. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel glass tube elements of relatively large section and a conduit of small section forming the bot tom of the U and extending to a distance inside said tube elements, said tube elements having bulging portions at the levels of the orifices of said conduit, a plug at the upper part'of each of said tube elements capable of allowing gases to flow therethrough but adapted to prevent the passage of mercury, electric contacts in the upper parts of said tube elements below said plugs, and a mercury column present in said tube elements and said conduit adapted to cooperate with said contacts.

6. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two paral lel tube elements of relatively large section, a capillary tube forming the bottom of the U and consisting of a metallic tube the branches of which extend upwardly to a distance inside said tube elements respectively, a plug at the upper part of each of said tube elements capable of allowing gases to flow therethrough but adapted to prevent the passage of mercury, electric contacts in the upper parts of said tube elements below said plugs, and a mercury column present in said tube elements in said metallic tube adapted to cooperate with said contacts, the branches of said metallic tube opening respectively in the middle of the mercury masses present in said tube elements.

7. A device which comprises, in combination, a U-shaped hollow structure including two parallel tube elements of relatively large section, and a conduit of small section forming the bottom of the U and extending to a distance inside said tube elements, means in each of said tube elements for ensuring between the top and bottom thereof a. connection which cannot be cut oil by capillary adhesion of mercury to the walls of said tube elements, a plug at the upper part of each of said tube elements capable of allowing ases to flow therethrough but adapted to prevent the passage oi mercury, electric contacts in the upper parts 01' said tube elements below said plugs, and a mercury column present in said tube elements and said conduit adapted to cooperate with said contacts.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which said means for ensuring a connection between the top and bottom of the tube elements consists of an elongated metal element of small section disposed along the wall of said tube element.

9. A device according to claim 6 in which the branches of said metallic tube are closed at the top, said branches being provided with apertures in their lateral walls corresponding to the respective centers of the masses of mercury present in said tube elements.

10. A device which comprises, in combination, a rectilinear tube, a plug at each end of said tube adapted to allow gases to flow therethrough but capable of stopping mercury, electric contacts in the ends of said tube, respectively, and a mass of mercury in said column, said plugs being so shaped and spaced apart that, in the central position said mercury mass is in contact with both of the contacts but leaves one of them when it is pushed in one direction or the other.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which saidplugs are bevel-shaped. v

12. A device according to claim 10 includin metallic tubes surrounding said plugs, said plugs, and the metallic tubes surrounding them being bevel-shaped, the contacts being formed by the ends of said metallic tubes.

13. A device which comprises, in combination,

a rectilinear tube, a plug in the central part of said tube, said tube being ofcrestricted section at one end thereof, a porous plug at each end of said tube adapted to permit the flow of gases therethrough but capable of stopping mercury, a contact at each end of said tube, so that one of said contacts is in said part of restricted section,

and a mercury column in each of the portions of said tube limited by said central plug on the one hand and said end plugs, respectively, whereby, upon the admission of a gas under pressure into the central part of the tube, the mercury column inthe tube portion having an end of restricted section is moved into cooperation with the corresponding contact only after the other mercury column has been brought into cooperative engagement with the other contact.

14. In combination with a photo-relay of the monoblock type comprising a plurality of glass plates assembled together by welding, a U-shaped CONSTAN'I'IN CHILOWSKY. 

